Tennessee POST Commission approves settlement allowing Sheriff Heath Gunter to keep certification under conditions

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission voted to approve a settlement Jan. 16 that would close the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance’s case against Grundy County Sheriff Heath Gunter if he meets a set of conditions, including weekly reporting, training requirements and forfeiture of a salary supplement.

The agreement, described to commissioners by Department counsel and defense counsel during the hearing, resolves allegations that Gunter’s office employed uncertified people in law-enforcement roles and failed to maintain ACADIS records from September 2022 through October 2023. Under the terms presented to the commission, the case would be dismissed if Gunter submits weekly updates to POST investigators for six months, forgoes his salary supplement for two years and completes a POST-approved leadership/organizational course and an ACADIS training within six months.

The commission’s vote followed months of inquiry by…